Climping adventure seeker set for biggest challenge yet

Adventure seeker Louise Brown is preparing for her biggest challenge to date, rowing the Atlantic to help save lives from blood cancer.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Louise, 54, has already sailed back and forth across the Atlantic, ridden an off-road motorbike across the Atlas Mountains, bungee jumped in Canada and wing walked on a biplane, to name a few, but she says this next challenge tops them all.

Louise, of Field Place, Climping, is due to fly to Tenerife with Rannoch Adventures in February. She hopes her challenge will help raise awareness of the DKMS stem cell register and encourage people to sign up to help find a match for all those people who need one.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “I’ve done some pretty exciting things in the past but having never rowed before, not even on a rowing machine, I was looking for a new challenge.

Louise Brown has done some pretty exciting things but says this next challenge tops them allLouise Brown has done some pretty exciting things but says this next challenge tops them all
Louise Brown has done some pretty exciting things but says this next challenge tops them all

“I feel incredibly lucky to have been selected to join a team of 12 to row across the Atlantic. We will row 3,000 miles from Tenerife to Antigua. We will spend up to 40 days non-stop rowing, working in a crew of six, rowing 24 hours a day - two hours on the oars and two hours off, day and night.

“I’m literally counting the days down with anticipation and excitement.

“I will be powered by freeze-dried meals, which are so good I could honestly eat them at home, if I were in a hurry. I am limited to one 25 litre bag for my kit, which is not a lot. It’s going to be smelly – but at least we are in the middle of the ocean.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Louise is in training, working via Zoom with Chris Jones, head coach at Wellington Rowing Club in New Zealand.

Louise has been in training, working with Chris Jones, head coach at Wellington Rowing Club in New Zealand, via ZoomLouise has been in training, working with Chris Jones, head coach at Wellington Rowing Club in New Zealand, via Zoom
Louise has been in training, working with Chris Jones, head coach at Wellington Rowing Club in New Zealand, via Zoom

She watched Team Margot row into English Harbour, Antigua, last year after their Atlantic crossing and said this was her inspiration to raise awareness of the stem cell register and why DKMS is her chosen charity.

Louise said: “I want to encourage as many as I possibly can to join the register and help save lives. All it takes is a simple cheek swab and two minutes of your time.

“I feel so honoured to have been given this opportunity, probably my whackiest challenge yet, and it has given me such a great focus in what has otherwise been a truly bizarre year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I will be 55 when I start the row. My husband, three sons, three grandchildren and friends will be following the little boat-shaped tracker as it slowly makes its way across the vast expanse between the Canaries and the Caribbean.

“I cannot wait to experience the welcome from friends and family into the harbour in Antigua and share the celebrations, after such a life-changing experience.”

Visit www.dkms.org.uk/en/atlanticrow for more information and to make a donation.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Related topics: